[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 122 (Monday, June 25, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33705-33708]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-15821]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[Program Announcement 01109]


Cooperative Agreement for Surveillance of Child Maltreatment; 
Notice of Availability of Funds

A. Purpose

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announces the 
availability of fiscal year (FY) 2001 funds for a cooperative agreement 
program for Surveillance of Child Maltreatment (CM). The federal Child 
Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA), as amended and reauthorized 
in 1996, provides a minimum set of acts or behaviors that characterize 
CM.
    The purposes of the program are: Part I--Mortality Surveillance--to 
compare alternative approaches to surveillance for fatal and nonfatal 
CM on the state level, and Part II--Morbidity Surveillance--to test 
methods that may be employed for the surveillance of violence at all 
ages. The first purpose addresses the pressing need for a practical 
surveillance system for CM that can be implemented at the state level. 
The second purpose addresses the particular need to use efforts in 
child maltreatment mortality surveillance as a starting point for a 
national violent death surveillance system. This program will help 
determine the utility of various data sources for such a system. This 
program addresses ``Healthy People 2010,'' focus area of Injury and 
Violence Prevention.

B. Eligible Applicants

    Assistance will be provided only to the official public health 
departments of States or their bona fide agents, including the District 
of Columbia, the

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Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of 
the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, Guam, the Federated 
States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the 
Republic of Palau, and federally recognized Indian tribal governments.
    Separate applications must be submitted for Part I and Part II. 
Applications for the Mortality Surveillance (Part I) and the Morbidity 
Surveillance (Part II) will be evaluated separately. Therefore, a state 
applying for Part I and Part II may be funded for both, one, or 
neither.
    To be eligible, applicants must provide evidence of the following:
    Part I. Mortality Surveillance Eligibility Requirements Evidence of 
access to records critical for identifying all cases of fatal CM among 
children ages 0 through 9 during calendar year 2000 and 2001 in the 
applicant's jurisdiction. Programs must have demonstrated access to 
records with personal/unique identifiers from 3 of the 4 following data 
sources:
    1. The state's child protective services agency;
    2. Child fatality review committees;
    3. Medical examiners and/or coroners; and
    4. Police/FBI records of homicide and negligent or non-negligent 
manslaughter.

Part II. Morbidity Surveillance Eligibility Requirements

    Evidence of access to sources of records that are critical for case 
finding for nonfatal CM among children ages 0 through 9 during calendar 
year 2000 or 2001 in the applicant's jurisdiction. Programs must 
demonstrate access for surveillance purposes to records with personal/
unique identifiers from the state's child protective services and from 
inpatient hospital records. Additional data sources such as emergency 
department and Medicaid databases may also be reviewed if desired.
    The documentation to fulfill the eligibility requirements for Part 
I and/or Part II must appear on the first page of the application 
following the face sheet. Acceptable documentation, at a minimum, 
includes a letter from the director of the agency delineating what 
records/data are available for use and by whom, the time frames for the 
use of the records/data, how the records/data will be used, etc. The 
documentation must appear on the letterhead of the agency that has the 
authority to grant access to the data, e.g., if the agency with the 
authority to grant access to the data is the Department of Family and 
Children Services (DFACS), then the letter must be submitted on DFACS 
letterhead.
    Applications that fail to submit evidence listed above will be 
considered non-responsive and will be returned without review.

    Note: Title 2 of the United States Code, chapter 26, section 
1611 states that an organization described in section 501(c)(4) of 
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 that engages in lobbying 
activities is not eligible to receive Federal funds constituting an 
award, cooperative agreement, contract, loan, or any other form.

C. Availability of Funds

    Approximately $1,200,000 is available in FY 2001 to fund 
approximately six awards. Applicants may apply for part I. Mortality 
Surveillance and/or part II. Morbidity Surveillance.

Part I. Mortality Surveillance

    Approximately $300,000 is available to fund approximately three 
awards. The average award for Mortality Surveillance will be $100,000.

Part II. Morbidity Surveillance

    Approximately $900,000 is available to fund approximately three 
awards. The average award for Morbidity Surveillance will be $300,000.
    It is expected that the awards will begin on or about September 30, 
2001, and will be made for a 12-month budget period within a project 
period of up to three years. Funding estimates may change.
    Continuation awards within an approved project period will be made 
on the basis of satisfactory progress, as evidenced by required 
reports, and the availability of funds.

D. Program Requirements

    In conducting activities to achieve the purpose of this program, 
the recipient will be responsible for the activities under 1. Recipient 
Activities, and CDC will be responsible for the activities listed under 
2. CDC Activities.

1. Recipient Activities

Part I. Mortality Surveillance Program

    a. Identify cases of fatal CM among children ages 0 through 9 
during calendar years 2000 and 2001 in the applicant's jurisdiction. 
See ``Background and Definitions'' section for case definition.
    b. Identify duplicate records for the same children from all 
sources.
    c. Calculate incidence rates by age group, sex, and race by source 
and for all sources combined and describe the epidemiology of cases. 
Contrast the epidemiology of individuals identified based upon the 
methods employed.
    d. Evaluate all data sources used to identify cases of fatal CM 
among children to include a cost-per-case analysis.
Part II. Morbidity Surveillance Program
    a. Conduct case finding for nonfatal CM among children ages 0 
through 9 during calendar year 2000 or 2001 in the applicant's 
jurisdiction. Some approaches that can be used to identify cases 
include but are not limited to the following:
    (1) The State's child protective services agency. Only 
substantiated cases newly identified during the study year should be 
included.
    (2) Hospital inpatient records that are identified by specific 
discharge diagnoses for CM, assaults, and undetermined causes. 
Additional data sources such as emergency department and Medicaid 
databases may be reviewed if desired.
    (3) Hospital inpatient records identified by specific discharge 
diagnoses of injuries and illnesses suggestive of CM with or without 
additional discharge diagnoses for CM, assaults, or undetermined 
injuries. Additional data sources such as emergency department, trauma 
registries, and Medicaid databases may be also be reviewed if desired.
    b. Identify duplicate individuals and calculate the degree of 
overlap of the sources.
    c. Calculate incidence rates by age group, sex, and race by source 
and for all sources combined and describe the epidemiology of cases. 
Contrast the epidemiology of individuals identified by different 
approaches, such as those in ``a'' above.
    d. Evaluate each of the approaches used to identify cases, 
including a cost-per-case-detected analysis.

2. CDC Activities

Part I. and Part II.
    a. Provide technical assistance, if requested, on all aspects of 
recipient activities, including the epidemiology of CM and design of 
all phases of CM surveillance;
    b. Facilitate communication/coordination among States to improve 
the efficiency of activities and quality of surveillance data.
    c. Provide consultation in refining standardized data collection 
and reporting systems to monitor surveillance activities.
    d. Facilitate collaborative efforts to compile and disseminate 
program results.
    e. Assist in the transfer of information and methods developed in 
these projects to other surveillance programs.

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    f. Provide the list of ICD codes, if requested, to be used to 
collect hospital inpatient data. (Part II only)

E. Application Content

    Use the information in the Program Requirements, Other 
Requirements, and Evaluation Criteria sections to develop the 
application content. The application will be evaluated on the 
Evaluation Criteria listed, so it is important to follow them in laying 
out the program plan. Number each page consecutively and provide a 
complete Table of Contents. The total number of pages should not exceed 
60 pages including the appendix and abstract. No bound booklets, etc. 
should be attached.
    In developing the application, the applicant must also include a 
two-page, double-spaced abstract. In following the format shown below, 
the applicant should also provide a detailed description of the first 
year activities and briefly describe future year objectives and 
activities.
Format:
    1. Face Page
    2. Eligibility information
    3. Abstract
    4. Background describing previous work done in CM by the applicant, 
if any.
    5. Goals
    6. Objectives
    7. Methods
    8. Experience
    9. Capacity
    10. Project Management and staffing
    11. Budget
    12. Human Subjects (Part II only)
    13. Attachments

F. Submission and Deadline

    Submit the original and two copies of PHS 5161-1 (OMB Number 0920-
0428. Forms are available at the following Internet address: 
www.cdc.gov/forminfo.htm, or in the application kit.
    On or before August 16, 2001, submit the application to the Grants 
Management Specialist identified in the ``Where to Obtain Additional 
Information'' section of this announcement.
    Deadline: Applications shall be considered as meeting the deadline 
if they are either:
    (a) Received on or before the deadline date; or
    (b) Sent on or before the deadline date and received in time for 
submission to the independent review group. (Applicants must request a 
legibly dated U.S. Postal Service postmark or obtain a legibly dated 
receipt from a commercial carrier or U.S. Postal Service. Private 
metered postmarks shall not be acceptable as proof of timely mailing.)
    Late Applications: Applications which do not meet the criteria in 
(a) or (b) above are considered late applications, will not be 
considered, and will be returned to the applicant.

G. Evaluation Criteria

    Each application will be evaluated individually against the 
following criteria by an independent review group appointed by CDC.

Part I. Mortality Surveillance

1. Goals and Objectives (10 points)
    a. The extent to which the applicant has included goals which are 
relevant to the purpose of the proposal and feasible to be accomplished 
during the project period.
    b. The extent to which the objectives are specific, time-phased, 
and measurable.
    c. The extent to which an identified staff person is responsible 
for achieving each objective.
2. Methodology (20 points)
    a. The extent to which clear explanations are provided of 
appropriate methods addressing the identification and review of 
specific records, case ascertainment and data collection, sampling 
methods (if applicable), legal authority for surveillance activities, 
protection of confidentiality, and data processing and analysis. (See 
case definition in Addendum 2 Background Section)
    b. The extent to which the applicant provides a detailed 
description of the potential problems and proposed resolutions.
3. Experience (25 points)
    a. The extent to which the applicant documents past experience in 
the surveillance of injuries.
    b. The extent to which the applicant documents experience using 
Child Protective Service (CPS), Child Fatality Review (CFR), Medical 
Examiner(s) and/or coroners, and/or Police/FBI records of homicide and 
negligent or non-negligent manslaughter for public health surveillance.
4. Capacity (25 points)
    a. The extent to which the applicant provides evidence of CFR data 
that includes the review of all pediatric deaths (including 
unintentional injuries, SIDS, and deaths from natural causes) rather 
than data from violent deaths alone.
5. Staffing (20 points)
    a. The extent to which the applicant provides evidence of existing 
staff to perform activities rather than the need to hire new staff to 
perform recipient activities.
    b. The extent to which the applicant provides evidence of 
commitment of adequate time to accomplish all tasks.
    c. The extent to which the applicant provides evidence of necessary 
skills and experience among current staff or in the job description of 
proposed new staff to carry out the objectives for the program.
6. Budget (Not Scored)
    a. The extent to which the budget request is clearly explained, 
adequately justified, reasonable, sufficient, and consistent with the 
stated objectives and planned activities.

Part II. Morbidity Surveillance

1. Goals and Objectives (5 points)
    a. The extent to which the applicant has included goals that are 
relevant to the purpose of the proposal and can be accomplished during 
the project period.
    b. The extent to which the objectives are specific, time-phased, 
and measurable.
    c. The extent to which an identified staff person is responsible 
for achieving each objective.
2. Access to Data (20 points)
    a. The extent to which the applicant can demonstrate with the 
latest available statistics that at least 90 percent of hospitalized 
injuries are E-coded.
    b. The extent to which the applicant provides evidence of the legal 
authority of the health department to assess and review medical records 
for non-reportable conditions for public health purposes.
3. Methods (25 points)
    a. The extent to which the applicant provides a detailed and clear 
explanation of appropriate methods for identifying and reviewing 
specific records. (See case definition in Addendum 2 Background 
Section)
    b. The extent to which the applicant provides a detailed 
description of the potential problems and proposed solutions.
4. Experience (20 points)
    a. The extent to which the applicant documents experience in injury 
surveillance.
    b. The extent to which the applicant documents experience in using 
hospital discharge data for public health surveillance.

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5. Capacity (15 points)
    a. The extent to which the applicant documents a detailed and clear 
description of how record linkage will be accomplished.
    b. The extent to which the applicant documents the ability to 
directly access hospital discharge data kept by the health department 
rather than having to make requests for analyses from an agency outside 
the health department.
6. Staffing (15 points)
    a. The extent to which the applicant provides evidence of the use 
of existing staff rather than new staff to perform recipient 
activities.
    b. The extent to which the applicant provides evidence of the 
commitment of adequate time and resources to accomplish all tasks.
    c. The extent to which the applicant provides evidence of skills 
and experience necessary to carry out the objectives of the program 
among current staff or in the job description of proposed new staff.
7. Budget (Not Scored)
    The extent to which the budget request is clearly explained, 
adequately justified, reasonable, sufficient, and consistent with the 
stated objectives and planned activities.
8. Human Subjects (Not Scored)
    Does the application adequately address the requirements of 45 CFR 
part 46 for the protection of human subjects?
    (Yes or No).

H. Other Requirements

Technical Reporting Requirements

    Provide CDC with original plus two copies of:
    1. semi-annual progress reports;
    2. financial status report, no more than 90 days after the end of 
the budget period; and
    3. final financial and performance reports, no more than 90 days 
after the end of the project period.
    Send all reports to the Grants Management Specialist identified in 
the ``Where to Obtain Additional Information'' section of this 
announcement.
AR-1 Human Subjects Requirements (Part II only)
AR-7 Executive Order 12372 Review
AR-9 Paperwork Reduction Act Requirements
AR-10 Smoke-Free Workplace Requirements
AR-11 Healthy People 2010
AR-12 Lobbying Restrictions
AR-13 Prohibition on Use of CDC Funds for Certain Gun Control 
Activities
AR-21 Small, minority, and women-owned businesses
AR-22 Research Integrity

I. Authority and Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number

    This program is authorized under sections 301(a), 317(k)(2), and 
391-394A (42 U.S.C. 241(a), 247b(k)(2), and 280b-280b-3 of the Public 
Health Service Act as amended. The Catalog of Federal Domestic 
Assistance number is 93.136.

J. Where to Obtain Additional Information

    This and other CDC announcements are available through the CDC 
homepage on the Internet at: http://www.cdc.gov. Click on ``Funding'' 
then ``Grants and Cooperative Agreements.''
    To receive additional information and to request an application 
kit, call 1-888-GRANTS4 (1-888 472-6874). You will be asked to leave 
your name and address and will be instructed to identify the 
Announcement number of interest.
    If you have questions after reviewing the contents of all the 
documents, business management technical assistance may be obtained 
from: Angie Nation, Grants Management Specialist, Grants Management 
Branch, Procurement and Grants Office, Announcement 01109, Centers for 
Disease Control and Prevention, 2920 Brandywine Road, Room 3000, 
Atlanta, GA 30341-4146, Telephone number: (770) 488-2719, Email 
address: [email protected].
    For program technical assistance, contact: Joyce McCurdy, Project 
Officer, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for 
Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Highway, NE, Mailstop K60, 
Atlanta, GA 30341, Telephone number: (770) 488-4266, Email address: 
[email protected], FAX number: (770) 488-4349.

    Dated: June 19, 2001.
John L. Williams,
Director, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for Disease Control 
and Prevention (CDC).
[FR Doc. 01-15821 Filed 6-22-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P